Workshops Available

Workshops on fiction writing can be transformative for both aspiring and experienced writers. They offer a unique blend of structure, community, and creative stimulation that’s hard to replicate on your own.

Fiction Writing I — What Is Covered:

• Week 1:
  • Introduction to Fiction: The different types and forms of fiction. Where to find inspiration and ideas. The importance of craft.
• Week 2:
  • Character: Where to find characters. Making characters dimensional through desire and contrasts. Creating character profiles. Showing vs. Telling. Methods for showing characters.
• Week 3:
  • Plot: Finding a major dramatic question. Shaping a beginning, middle, and end. The difference between a short story and a novel plot. Pros and cons of outlining.
  • Point Of View: POV defined. Exploration of the many types of POV.
• Week 4:
  • Description: Using the senses. Specificity. Techniques for creativity. Finding the right words. Merging description with point of view.
• Week 5:
  • Dialogue: The importance of scene. Dialogue’s illusion of reality. Quotation marks and tags. Stage directions. Summarized dialogue. Characterization through dialogue. Subtext. Dialect.
  • Voice: Voice defined. Exploration of the various types of voice. Tips for finding your voice. Understanding style—syntax, diction, and paragraph length.
• Week 6:
  • Setting/Pacing: Time. Place. Weather. Description of setting. Merging character and setting. How to manipulate time through pacing. Flashbacks.
• Week 7:
  • Theme: Theme defined. Types of theme. Weaving theme into a story.
• Week 8:
  • Revisions: Exploration of the various stages of revision. Proper format for manuscripts.
  • The Business: How to target publishing houses, literary magazines, and agents. Query letters.

Fiction Writing II — What Is Covered:

• Week 1: 
  • Truth and Lies: Why fiction writers must “lie” (stray from the facts). Tips for making it fictional. The value of bringing “truth” (honesty) to fiction. Tips for finding honesty.
  • Dreaming Up a Story: Creating a plot through a “dream” sensibility. Finding “hot spots.” Finding the unexpected. Using actual dreamscapes. Imposing order.
• Week 2:
  • Beginnings: The need for a strong beginning. First sentences. Opening paragraphs. The beginning section.
  • The Narrator: The value of an engaging narrator. The narrative voice. Techniques for effective narrators in first and third person points of view. Direct address. Narrator and audience.
  • Endings: Finding the effective ending. The “whammy” ending. The “internal change” ending. The “non-ending” ending.
• Week 3:
  • Real Characters: Making characters seem real. The drive of desire. Contrast within personality. Specific details. Capability of change. Minor characters.
  • Description Details: Quality over quantity in description. Telling details. Convincing details. Details that stick.
  • Revealing Characters: The potency of “showing” characters. Revealing layers of characters. Gradual revelation of characters. Playing “fair” with character revealon.
• Week 4:
  • Dialogue Impact: Bringing forth the external with dialogue. Revealing character. Revealing conflict. The value of subtext.
  • Making Scenes: Choosing scenes. Connecting scenes. Scene dynamics—conflict, dialogue, cinematic directionon.
  • The Sentence: Making every sentence interesting. Choosing the right words. Types of sentences. Sentence structure and rhythm. Sentence progression. Sentence essentials. Sentences merging into paragraphs.
• Week 5:
  • Intriguing POVs: Making point of view intriguing, in first, second, and third person. Altering point of view strategy midstream.
  • POV Distance: Point of view review. Psychic distance in point of view. Manipulating the point of view “camera.” Using the distance of time. Using present tense. Handling thoughts.
• Week 6:
  • The Essence of Plot: The simple formula underlying most fictional plots. Three types of short story plots—classic, slice of life, passive protagonist.
  • Breaking the Mold: The flexibility of the short story form. Various ways to break the mold of the conventional short story.
• Week 7:
  • Emotional Settings: Finding the emotional value of a setting. The “feel” of setting. Character perception of setting. People as setting.
  • The Big Why: The value of theme. Theme analyzed. Thematic symbols. Hints for discovering theme.
• Week 8:
  • Writers Must Read: What writers gain from reading. How to gain insight and skill through reading as a writer. The Process: Wisdom from masters on habits and writing craft.
  • In Print: Facts about getting into print. Exploration of literary magazines. How to target literary magazines. Guidelines for sending out work. Responses, rejection, contests. Gaining an edge.